Transat 2013, Bona fifth. We are so strong in the Atlantic!

This crazy and challenging edition of the Mini Transat, with a single leg from Sada (Spain) to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), proved that the Italians, in the Atlantic can go great: after Giancarlo Pedote’s second place (with much regret) among the Protos, Alberto Bona finished in fifth place with his Onlinesim.it among the Series. A result that, among the series, is the best for an Italian since Giancarlo Pedote’s own 4th place in the 2009 edition. Michele Zambelli, tenth in the Protos aboard Fontanot, also did well.

GREAT BONA
Alberto Bona’s Mini Transat ended on a high note. The skipper of Onlinesim.it, theprotagonist of a generous and convincing regatta, took his Mini 6.50 to fifth place in the Series grouping. An absolute level result, considering that there were over fifty entries on the starting line in the fleet hegemonized by Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante Contre le Cancer). Alberto Bona completed the course unraveled between Sada and Guadeloupe in 25 days, 2 hours, 46 minutes and 10 seconds.

I GOT LITTLE TO NO SLEEP
Bona, who over the past few weeks has been battling continuously with Tanguy Le Turquais (Terreal), Jean Baptiste Lemarie (?uvre du Marin Breton) and Jerome D’Aboville (Bel), all of whom finished behind him, said, “I am really happy. I had quite a few technical problems that forced me to spend most of my time at the helm, leaving me very little time to sleep: it was difficult. Fortunately, we were a group of boats not too far apart, and that was crucial because it allowed me to figure out my position. If I had been alone I would not have sailed so well. To do a regatta like that, from the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe, was extraordinary. I’m really happy to have arrived, now I have to realize it.”

ZAMBELLI TENTH AMONG PROTO
Shortly before Bona’s arrival the stopwatch was given for Michele Zambelli (Fontanot), good for 10th among the Protos in 24 days, 10 hours, 10 minutes and 5 seconds. The skipper from Forlì, who held his own against fierce competition, described this edition of the Mini Transat as superb and added, “Between Sada and Lanzarote, with the bad weather, I decided to sail like the old mariners, cautiously without forcing too much. I was not necessarily fast, but I had a good average speed and when I realized I was sixth, in Lanzarote I decided not to stop.”

Expected arrivals at Point-a-Pitre in the coming hours and days are Andrea Iacopini (Oompa Loompa) and Federico Fornaro (Raw News), both of whom are committed to the Series.